English Weblog

Yamasaki High School DAY BY DAY

Evacuation Drill Held !

投稿日時 : 2019/05/17  校長 
The day before yesterday at around two thirty in the afternoon, we had an emergency drill, assuming that a fire broke out at school after a big earthquake occurred. Our ALT, Philip Wilby, now reports the atmosphere of the drill and how the students reacted in the activity.

On the 15th of May, Yamasaki Senior High School conducted an emergency drill and practiced evacuating the school. For the first grade students, who joined the school last month, it was their first opportunity to practice an emergency drill with everybody.

  
 
Interestingly, the evacuation alarm is quite different from those used in Australia. In Australia, the evacuation alarm is a distinct siren, with a rising pitch which just constantly repeats. However at Yamasaki Senior High School, the alarm siren is also accompanied with voice instructions, informing people that the siren is an evacuation alarm, and that everyone needs to leave the school buildings. 

  

All the students evacuated the school in a brisk and well ordered manner, and gathered at the nearby baseball field, and waited on further instructions. Officials from the Hyogo emergency services were in attendance, and gave a brief talk about fire and earthquake evacuation procedures and how best to respond to an emergency. Yamasaki Senior High school conducts regular emergency training to maintain a high level of preparedness, to ensure a rapid and well ordered response in the event of an emergency. This ensures the highest safety for all the students and staff at Yamasaki Senior High School.
0

Hiroshima Orientation Trip Held !

投稿日時 : 2019/05/09  校長 
On April 23 and 24, the 234 first grade students went out for their orientation trip at "Tsuneishi Shimanami Village" in Hiroshima, and they experienced a lot of things to create their great teamwork for their three-year high school days at Yamasaki Senior High School. Our staff writer, Mr.Philip Wilby, here reports how the event was carried out and what the students learned form this opportunity.       

At the beginning of the new school year, first grade students from Yamasaki Senior High School, learn about comradery and team work by going on an overnight orientation training camp in Hiroshima Prefecture. Hiroshima is approximately 3 hours by bus from Yamasaki Senior High School, and the training facility offers an extensive range of facilities for the students to enjoy.

   

In the morning the students left Yamasaki, and took the bus to the training camp in Hiroshima. There they first got to experience the meditation practice of “Zazen.” From the Zen Buddhist tradition, where the students sit and let their mind rest in calmness. If students chose to, they could also experience “Keisaku,” which is the practice of being struck on the shoulders with a long stick from a monk, to reinvigorate and awaken them.

  

After relaxing the mind, the students then energized their bodies, participating in drill practice, which helped unify the students, teaching them self discipline. After the exercise the students could relax, enjoying a delicious BBQ together !

  

The next day the students from each of the six classes were divided in two, to make 12 teams, and they got to experience clipper boat rowing. After practicing, the teams raced, and a team from class 1-1 won the competition !

  
  

With all the activities complete, the students returned in the afternoon to Yamasaki, having had a wonderful time !
0

English Communication Class Report

投稿日時 : 2019/04/25  校長 
Three weeks have already passed since the first grade students entered our Yamasaki High School, and they are now starting to explore the world of English Communication classes with our ALT, Mr.Philip Wilby, who has double cultural backgrounds of Britain and Australia. Today, he reports how he organizes his own lessons of English Communication for the new comers.

In the first English communication class for the first grade students, the ALT and the Japanese English teacher introduce themselves to each other, demonstrating to the students how to professionally introduce themselves as they would in a business environment.

The students learn the necessary phrases and practice in pairs introducing themselves to each other, and learn how to shake hands properly.

Next the ALT tells the students about Australia, including the unique Flora and Fauna such as quokkas, wombats and the “Kangaroo Paw” flower.

   
                     quokka                                              wombat                             "Kangaroo-Paw" flower

Following the presentation about Australia, the students play a game. 
The students make groups of 4, and 1 person is assigned to be the writer and the rest are runners. The runners have to go one at a time to information posters placed around the classroom to find the answers to questions the writers have to complete. The runner goes to a poster, finds the answer to 1 question, then returns to the writer and tells them the answer so they can write it on their question sheet. The first team that answers all the questions correctly wins! It is a fun game that engages the students and helps them read, write, speak and listen in English!
0

Club Activities' Introduction

投稿日時 : 2019/04/11  校長  カテゴリ:今日の出来事
The first year students are now spending a very busy week, starting their "High School Years" with other friends and classmates. Our ALT, Mr. Philip Wilby, again observes and reports the special event for the newcomers, "Club Activities' Introduction" held on April 9th at the gymnasium of our school.        

On the 9th of April the first year students of Yamasaki  High School, who had only started school the day before, were treated to a wonderful introduction to all the amazing extra-curricular club activities Yamasaki High School has on offer!

Yamasaki High School offers an amazing 30 different club activities, broadly organized into two main categories; culture, and sports. In the culture category there are 17 different clubs ranging from music clubs like Brass Band, guitar and the Koto instrument, to traditional activities such as tea ceremony and flower arranging. In the sports category students can play popular sports like soccer, baseball, and basketball, but also can participate in activities such as skiing or Kendo!

In the introduction, students were given a short display from representatives of each club, to give them the opportunity to decide which clubs they would like to join. Clubs will have an open week next week, allowing new students to sample each club to help them decide. Many students are members of multiple clubs, and club participation is very high amongst all Yamasaki High School students.

  
  
0

Entrance Ceremony 2019 Held !

投稿日時 : 2019/04/09  校長  カテゴリ:今日の出来事
Yesterday we celebrated the actual beginning of the new school year 2019 and welcomed 234 fresh students at Yamasaki Senior High School with the strikingly beautiful cherry blossoms in full bloom. Our ALT, Mr.Philip Wilby, reports below what he witnessed here at the entrance ceremony for the first time in Japan.     

On Monday the 8th of April, 2019, the new school year began at Yamasaki Senior High School. 2019 is an auspicious year for new beginnings, as Japan enters the new “Reiwa era” as the new Emperor begins his reign. With the magnificent Sakura trees in full bloom, the new students made their entrance into the assembly hall, and were introduced one by one. In attendance this year are 39 new students in the Forestry and Environmental Science department, 40 new students in the Home Economics and Lifestyle department, and 155 new students in the General academic department.

  

After the national anthem was sung, the principal addressed the students and spoke about living up to the school Motto, of Hope Wisdom and Respect, and making the most of their time at Yamasaki Senior High School through study and club activities.

The ceremony was a very formal occasion, with the principal dressed in a long-tailed formal suit, and reverence was shown to the Japanese flag which was bowed to when each speaker entered the stage. It is quite reminiscent of the traditions and formal ceremonies held in Britain. 

After the school anthem was sung, the students were officially welcomed, and with great fanfare by the school’s marvelous Brass Band, the students left the assembly hall, ready to begin their new scholarly lives at Yamasaki Senior High School !

  
  
0